Former BBC Chief News Correspondent, Kate Adie, will be talking about her new book ‘Fighting on the Home Front: The Legacy of Women in World War 1’ on Tuesday 6th May at Bridport Town Hall at 7.30pm

This is a fascinating account of how women took on ‘men’s work’ in every area of life after the men went off to war and there was a desperate need to carry on their work.

Of particular local interest is that Bridport netting companies received orders for vast amounts of hay and pea nets for the war effort, most of which were made by women outworkers in their own homes. Kate visited the museum’s Local History Centre in Gundry Lane to research this from ledgers recording the huge individual output of these women.

They showed that not only could they do the work, but that they should be doing the work and gradually traditional attitudes to women changed as they proved themselves capable of the tasks previously only given to men.

Paperback copies of the book are to be published this month and will be available for purchase and signing on the evening. There will also be a bar.

Proceeds will help Bridport Museum with its redevelopment plans.

Tickets are £8 from the Local History Centre in Gundry Lane. Phone 01308 458703 for more details.

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To see our February 2013 interview with Katie Adie and our November 2013 piece on her new book, click here